Town vs village?

Timeflies

If you've had experience of living in a town and a village, how did you find them different? Can you give me some pointers on what to expect in a village, particularly for a family?

We currently live in a town of about 15,000 people. It has supermarkets, greengrocers, chemists, banks, library, hardware store, post office and such, along with pubs and 4 restaurants. It's not exactly bustling, it's 20 minutes drive or a train ride from the nearest city, and most people that live here commute away from the town for work. There's the odd festival or event, but generally it's a quiet town, low crime rates, good schools etc.

We're now house hunting for a family home, with our first baby on the way. We have a viewing this week on a lovely looking house in a nearby village. The house backs on to open land (farmland?) and the village itself has about 6 streets, a village hall, a primary school, a takeaway and a hairdressers. There are no shops or playgrounds as far as I can see and there's no train station. We can both drive, so I would imagine we'd have to travel for most things, whereas now we can pop to the shop quite easily.

I know I don't exactly live in the big smoke now, but any thoughts on what you've liked or disliked about village life would be appreciated!

em_9187

I love village life, personally. I love the feeling of being isolated and alone, almost in my own little retreat.


I don't like living in towns or cities as I hate being overlooked. But in a village you'll often find that people are quite nosey and this is annoying. I'm nosey though so I fit right in...

MrsE_2

My village has just over 4k, it has a butchers, a green grocers, a tiny co op, a hardware store, a chemist, a doctors, a post office come newsagents, a hairdressers & a vets. Oh & a tool hire place & an upholsters. And one pub, one state school & one private school.
I love it, I was born & bred in inner South London.

GoldenShadow

Depends! My town had 3000 and my village 400. I would pick village. 3000 was too busy and bustly hated it. Now I live in a city. Eek! Not for much longer...

MrsE_2

GoldenShadow wrote: »

Depends! My town had 3000 and my village 400. I would pick village. 3000 was too busy and bustly hated it. Now I live in a city. Eek! Not for much longer...

I wonder if I've made a mistake with 4k?
I got that figure off Wikipedia, but I think it might be the whole voting ward.

trailingspouse

Have lived in towns, villages, and at the back of beyond.

In favour of towns - you can mostly get everything you need locally, your kids are likely to live fairly close to their school friends, public transport is available, there's lots of choice for pubs/restaurants/takeaways and such like.

Much depends on the village. I've lived in a village that was cut in half by one of the main roads in to Scotland - big lorries going through all day and most of the night.

Village life is fab so long as you are prepared to drive everywhere. Supermarket, taking kids to visit friends, nights out (someone always has to not drink), doctor, hairdresser, school, post office. Everywhere.

I always thought my perfect house would be one in a village (with a small shop and a pub), but within a reasonable distance of a big town/city. I'm currently living in a town, within walking distance of the town centre - and I love it!!

JennyW_2

I now live in a village of approx 1800 people. We have a village shop, butcher, pub and primary school. I drive to the nearest town for my food shopping, bank etc but I plan everything I need a make a weekly trip.

I love village life, it's friendly and people have time to talk to you. I wouldn't live in a town again.

System

Have lived in cities, towns and villages.

Each had their plus and minus points.

I would never live in a village again as I am so used to regular bus services into the city, walk to buy the odd thing.

As a teen I hated living in the village as the last bus from the city to home was 5:30pm. I did lose friends living in the village as they got fed up with me unable to go out etc as they could get the bus home and for me £5 taxi ride from where my friend lived to home. My parents were working.

With the house you are looking at which backs onto fields, there is a good chance that it will be built on in 5-10 years time.

vandiola

Lived in a big city my whole life, and can't imagine anything else. having everything on your doorstep, all my friends and family, lots of community activities - I can't imagine not having all of that. But I'm also a live-in carer in a very small village (one shop, church, post office and a small primary school), its not bad. I dont own a car, so getting about is horrible as there are no buses, and the village shop is ridiculously expensive and basic, but the peace and quiet is lovely, everybody knows each other, I can walk around the whole village in 20 minutes. I can totally see why someone would want to live in a village, I just can't imagine doing it myself.

ACG

I have lived in Manchester suburbs all my life.

Whatever you want is on hand whenever you want - food/drink/entertainment/chemists/taxis/buses/supermarkets anything!

18 months ago I moved about 10 miles out to a village of around 8-9000 people. It came as a bit of a surprise, considering im not that far out.
Nightlife is limited to a pub which is like something from Emmerdale! It closes at midnight.

Take-aways are shockingly bad, the latest is open till 1am and if you go at that time theyre scratching around for food.

Buses/trains are non existant once it gets beyond 7-8pm during the week, even earlier on a sunday - not so bad as I drive but a bit expensive on taxis after a night out.

Im in my late 20s so we may have a different perspective but I still have a bit of a social life.

I know someone who has moved into a little village, he has to book a taxi 24 hours in advance if he wants it in the middle of the night!

dimbo61

Now I was born in a big northern city with two big football clubs and it was great up to 18/20 but once I started work in my profession I found most cities have a very dark side, drugs, drink, violence, abuse etc.
Moved to a town with a couple of supermarkets for choice, good local pubs and restaurants and something on most weekends. Farmers market, jazz festival, country show etc.
Can walk into town centre for banks, night out and last minute shopping.
Village life not sure about that.
PS my kids now 21/22 and 24 think town life is boring so went to big city universities.